The website SimpleLivingWorks looks interesting…they have lots of resources plus articles like this one on “What Might a Prophet Look Like?” That article includes the comment “Although lifestyle ministry is largely prophetic – urging and equipping people of faith to walk their talk – it focuses on two of the five Life Standards** of “Living More with Less” – “Do Justice” (#1) and “Non-conform Freely” (#5).” The author then shares 9 activities she/he is performing in support of these two Life Standards.

Reading such articles and summaries makes one pause and consider how as Christians we live a lifestyle that promotes justice. There are many actions possible. May the Spirit move each of us to show love with new and “more just” actions this week!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

** While I haven’t heard of the Five Life Standards, this Jubilee Economics website post suggests…

“The Five Life Standards, the essence of voluntary simplicity, are detailed in Doris Janzen Longacre’s book, Living More with Less (now available in a 30th Anniversary edition):

• Do Justice
• Learn from the World Community
• Nurture People, Not Things
• Celebrate Responsibly
• Nonconform Freely”

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, February 11, 2018:

• 2 Kings 2:1-12
• Psalm 50:1-6
• 2 Corinthians 4:3-6
• Mark 9:2-9

If God is your co-pilot, switch seats

Many in southeast Cincinnati (and elsewhere!) have high regard for Pastor Roger Green from St. Timothy’s Episcopal. A dear friend forwarded Roger’s “When Our Own Resources Come to an End.” blog post. Roger’s remarks really resonate – here’s one quote to tantalize you into spending an extra couple minutes reading the whole thing (HERE)…

When life breaks down, we have two choices: We can either redouble our efforts to put our lives back together again and pretend the breakdown never happened. Or we can realize that we are not self-sufficient and need help from a source greater than we are. If we choose the second path, we begin a journey into a way of life full of a new-found freedom.

Roger mentions several specific “life breaks down” moments. For many of us, life breaks down each and every morning when we don’t begin it early on with a little Christian activity: prayer, Bible reading, song, devotional readings, …

POTENTIAL ACTIONS:

• Find a time during the day when it’s commonplace for you to make a decision on your own. Stop. Take a pause. Ask God to “switch seats” with you for a moment. Where do you feel led? [NOTE: this may not work the first time, but it’s sure fun to try!]
• Interested in a song today? HERE is a song by Michael Card called “God’s Own Fool” When have people said about you “s(he) must have been out of her(his) mind!”

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, February 4, 2018:

• Isaiah 40:21-31
• Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
• 1 Corinthians 9:16-23
• Mark 1:29-39

Many of us have been blessed with a fine example(s) of Christian love and discipleship. On this anniversary of his birth it seems fitting to mention our Uncle Fred…

While seeing one another only a couple times a year, Uncle Fred let us know he loved us and was interested in our lives by connecting in other ways. He was a little like Paul with the Romans and Corinthians: he’d send us notes of encouragement – – a card at our birthday (enclosing 2 one dollar bills) and in later years would send us Valentine’s Day notes, sometimes with those little candy hearts in the envelope.

Few, if any, in my experience have been more generous. Whether he had it to give or not, our uncle could be counted on to contribute in some way to causes he considered worthy.

In our formative years we would come back to our Mom’s hometown and region for the Christmas holidays. Usually that time included a visit to Uncle Fred and Aunt Louise’s home for Christmas Eve dinner. After dinner it was on to worship at their church, complete with seeing Uncle Fred singing with The Men of Note and participating with the community. Uncle Fred lived his Christian faith for all to see; he didn’t need to tell us about the importance of church in life [though he’d willingly do that too! **:-) ]

PRAYER: Thank you, dear God, for the “Uncle Freds” in each of our lives. Help us to use their fine examples to shape our lives for more caring, loving, forgiving experiences… Amen

ACTIONS: As you go about your day…

• reflect on the “Uncle Freds” in your life and how they’ve shaped your faith
• consider who in your “relationship sphere” (niece/nephew, cousin, sibling, parent, friend or ???) might appreciate your expression of caring. Jot a note, a card and send it along (maybe including some candy hearts?)   <3
• is there a worthy cause you were considering giving to with your time, treasure and/or talents?  Maybe today is the day?  🙂

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

** a fun quote, attributed to our Grama, about her loquacious son: “Fred was inoculated with a phonograph needle”

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, February 4, 2018:

• Isaiah 40:21-31
• Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
• 1 Corinthians 9:16-23
• Mark 1:29-39

Praise the LORD! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting. The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. … Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre. He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow on the hills. … His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner; but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. Praise the LORD!  ~ Psalm 147:1-11, 20c (selections)

The hymn Praise Ye The Lord feels like it partially talks about this Psalm and it’s sung HERE if you want to hear it. And HERE’S a little history of this hymn in case you’re interested (fascinating how sometimes those who receive credit for a song are the ones who write the harmonies?)

ACTION: go about your day, spurred on to help heal the brokenhearted and in all things to Praise Ye the Lord!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, February 4, 2018:

• Isaiah 40:21-31
• Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
• 1 Corinthians 9:16-23
• Mark 1:29-39

ACTION: Each of us has a unique faith journey to share. Today can you find an opportunity to share “The Secret” or other aspects of your journey with others in your midst?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, January 28, 2018:

• Deuteronomy 18:15-20
• Psalm 111
• 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
• Mark 1:21-28

Movin’ and prayin’ can be a wonderful way to experience God. One nice example is this Quaker Prayer:

{Put your PALMS UP – arms stretched out in front of you}

God, you have given my life into my hands. I give it back to you. My time, my property, my life itself…knowing it is only an instant compared to my life with you in eternity.

{Move to PALMS DOWN – arms stretched out in front of you}

Parent God, to you I release the cares and concerns of this world, knowing you loved us enough to send your child who shared loving words and actions. I’m a sinner in need of a God-inspired example and, once again, I accept what you have done for me as sufficient.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

ACTION: Did the movements enhance your prayer? If so, maybe you’ll want to try another of these “movin’ and prayin’ ” prayers today or in the days ahead?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, January 21, 2018:

• Jonah 3:1-5, 10
• Psalm 62:5-12
• 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
• Mark 1:14-20

The Lectionary Psalm for this week is perfect as we journey through challenges:

Psalm 62:5-8    For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

ACTION: Stories of healing and peace are prevalent in the Bible and Christian Playbook has taken some key ones and placed them HERE in written and audio formats.

• Please listen to some portion of these if you feel so motivated
• Please let us know what you think by placing a comment below
• If you like this page of recordings, prayerfully consider whether someone you know might appreciate receiving them as a link on an email from you and send them along

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, January 21, 2018:

• Jonah 3:1-5, 10
• Psalm 62:5-12
• 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
• Mark 1:14-20

As people attempting to follow the loving example of Christ Jesus, we’re still going to fall down every once in a while. We’re only human, after all. In fact, that’s part of the “forgiveness equation,” isn’t it?

When you have a few minutes, take a listen to this song – We Fall Down But We Get Up. It first made my attention when suggested to us by a member of another jail ministry worship team.

“Get back up again!” … When you make one of the “suitable number of mistakes” in trying to follow your faith and the Spirit … “Get back up again!” As the song says, “For a saint is just a sinner who fell down and got up.”

ACTIONS: give yourself the grace to step out in faith, every once in a while falling down (wishing you acted differently in some way)

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, January 14, 2018:

• 1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20)
• Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
• 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
• John 1:43-51

Friends and family members are treasures (at least for most of us.) Hopefully each of us has enjoyed time with some of these blessed folks over the holidays.

While those holiday memories are fresh, consider enjoying 6 minutes with the Daily Prayer Audio focusing on Friends/Family

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, January 14, 2018:

• 1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20)
• Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
• 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
• John 1:43-51

What would have happened if it had been three Wise Women instead of three Wise Men?

They would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought practical gifts.

That joke and a few others about Epiphany are HERE

ACTION: On this Epiphany, this d365.org devotional is worth a read. Among many good comments, Meredith says:

“If the story of the wise men is about the light of Jesus shining out for all to follow, it is also about seeing and recognizing the Lord — often in the most unexpected places. Are our eyes open to recognize Christ among us? The light is shining above the vulnerable, the poor, the refugee, the homeless, the outcast. May the light of our faith be our guide as we seek to see Jesus in our midst.”

What actions among the vulnerable, the poor, the refugee, the homeless, the outcast might we be able to take this upcoming week? A few ideas are HERE

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, January 7, 2018:

• Genesis 1:1-5
• Psalm 29
• Acts 19:1-7
• Mark 1:4-11